Fully automatic wire fed top stop machine



Nov. 24, 1970 PERLMAN' W 3,541,662

FULLY AUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l Maze/5 p524 M/7/V 5y I NOV. 24, 1970 PERLMAN 3,541,662

FULLY AUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1968 48heets-Sheet 2 MAW NOV. 24, 1970 v PERLMAN 3,541,662

FULLY AUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L If; m/VE/vrae 3 3 Maze/s psez/vmv Nov. 24, 1970 M. PERLMAN Filed Feb. 14,, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L ..1% 1Z% Z A1; 7/// 2 I 4 Q 65* l f l 1 I 145 Wyn/75 1% o, gage/s P-EW United States Patent 3,541,662 FULLY AUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Morris Perlman, 1631 63rd St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 Filed Feb. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 705,525 Int. Cl. 1321f 45/18; B23p 19/04 U.S. Cl. 29-2075 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic wire fed top stop machine for attachment of top stops to slide fasteners. The machine comprises a top stop forming. and clinching mechanism. A driver assembly ram is provided for applying a top stop to a slide fastener chain and means for automatically positioning slide fastener units of the fastener chain, subsequently, in alignment with the ram. The positioning means pulls the slide fastener chain past the ram and momentarily arrests the chains travel when an endmost tooth of each slide fastener unit is in alignment with the ram. A pulling mechanism including a pair of axially parallel rollers, between which the fastener chain is pulled, is provided. A spring normally urges the rollers toward frictional engagement. Electromagnetic means are provided for urging one of the rollers apart from the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to automatic machinery for the production of slide fasteners. More specifically it relates to machinery for the securement of top stops to individual slide fastener units along a slide fastener chain, and is an improvement over applicants U.S. patent ap plication, Ser. No. 539,162, filed Mar. 31, 1966, on which U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,293 issued Nov. 10, 1968, entitled semiautomatic Wire Fed Top Stop Machine.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a wire fed top stop machine which is fully automatic throughout, and therefore does not need the attention of an operator during production operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a top stop machine that incorporates an automatic top stop forming and clinching mechanism (that comprises the subject of applicants above mentioned U.S. patent application), and which now further includes also automatically controlled positioning means for subsequent placement of each slide fastener unit of a slide fastener chain into alignment with the forming and clinching mechanism.

Other objects are to provide a fully automatic wire fed top stop machine which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention shown partly broken away to illustrate certain novel mechanism thereof,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front perspective view showing a portion of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view as viewed along line 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a plan view as viewed along line 77 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7,

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FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a portion of a slide fastener chain showing a unit thereof before receiving a top stop and a unit thereof after receiving a top stop.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 20 represents a fully automatic wire fed top stop machine according to the present invention wherein there is a housing 22 mounted upon a horizontal base 24, the housing having an electric motor 26 mounted thereupon, the motor having a pulley 28 on the motor shaft, the pulley being engaged by an endless belt 30 to a pulley 32 on a shaft 34 disconnectably connected by a clutch to a mainshaft 36. The mainshaft extends into the housing 22 where it is mechanically connected to a top stop forming and clinching mechanism 38 which is described in detail in the above identified U.S. patent application.

In the present invention, a clutch includes a clutch ring 40 secured to mainshaft 36, the clutch ring having a pair of outwardly extending lugs 42 and 44 integrally made thereupon. The lugs are located approximately 140 de grees apart around the collar, and the lugs are additionally spaced apart along a central axis of the clutch ring. One end of a bumper lever 46 is mounted pivotably about a pin 48 stationarily supported on the housing 22, the axis of pin 48 being transverse to the axis of the clutch ring, whereby a notch 50 on the bumper lever is movable to engage either lug as the clutch ring is rotated. The opposite end of the bumper lever is connected to an armature 52 of a solenoid 54, stationarily mounted upon the housing. A compression coil spring 56 bearing at one end against the housing, pushes at its opposite end against the lever so to normally maintain it in a position for notch 50 to engage lug 42, while the solenoid serves to pull the lever against the spring force so that the notch may engage lug 44.

Upon themainshaft 36, a cam 58 is secured, the cam engaging a cam follower roller 60 at the end of a rod 62, the opposite end of the rod engaging an electric switch 64.

Also, upon the mainshaft 36, a cam 66 is secured, the cam engaging a cam follower roller 68 at the end of a rod 70, the opposite end of the rod engaging an electric switch 72.

In the present invention, a roll of slide fastener chain is carried on a reel mounted on a rotatable spindle (not shown) from which the slide fastener chain 74 feeds in front of a driver assembly ram 76 that comprises an output end of the top stop forming and clinching mechanism 38. The slide fastener chain is comprised of a pair of stringers or tapes 78 which are already formed with partly completed slide fastener units 80 therealong at spaced apart intervals, each of the units ultimately becoming an individual slide fastener. The chain 74 being fed into the machine 20 already includes each unit comprising a row of engaging teeth 82 on each tape, the rows of teeth carrying a slide 84. Additionably each unit already includes a bottom stop 86 at one end of the rows of teeth. The present machine is for the purpose of providing the top stop to the opposite end of one of the rows of teeth. Thus as shown in the FIG. 11, the incoming portion of the chain toward the driver assembly is shown lacking the top stops, whereas the outgoing portion thereof is shown with a top stop already secured to one of the rows of teeth. It is, of course, understood that a generally like machine 20 located adjacent the output end of the present machine 20 is used to secure a top stop to the other row of teeth, thus completing the addition of two top stops to the chain as it feeds between reels.

The incoming chain slides upon a longitudinal track 88 as it travels toward the driver assembly. The track in- 3 cludes a longitudinal central depression 90 on its upper side within which the teeth and slide elements of each unit 80 travel.

A vertically slidable stop bar 92 is receivable through an opening 94 in the track, the lower end of the stop bar 92 being attached by pin 96 to one end of a centrally pivotable horizontal bar 98 pivotable about pin 100 mounted upon plate 102. The same end of bar 98 is upwardly urged by a tension spring 104 secured at one end on post 106 mounted upon plate 102. The opposite end of bar 98 is attached to armature 108 of a solenoid 110. One side 112 of stop bar 92 engages a micro switch 114 mounted upon plate 102.

The incoming chain slides upon a longitudinal track bracket 116 likewise secured to plate 102 supports a lever 118 centrally pivotable about a screw 120 secured to the bracket. One end of the lever is located over the chain 74. The opposite end of lever 114 is positioned to trip a switch 122.

The plate 102 supporting the stop bar 92 solenoid 110 and switches 114 and 122 is slidable respective to the driver assembly 76 so to accommodate slide fastener chains having different lengths of gaps 124 between the slide fastener units. The plate 102 has a tongue 126 slidable within groove 128 of the housing. A threaded bolt 130 held captive against longitudinal travel is rotatably free within a bracket 132 secured to the base or housing, the threaded bolt engaging a threaded opening in the plate 102. A convenient knob 134 on the bolt 130 permits rotation of the bolt manually so to move the plate and displace the stop bar respective to the driver assembly. An indicator arrow 136 engraved on the front side of plate 102 can be aligned respective to a graduated scale 138 secured on the bracket 132, thus providing linear measurement to aid in adjusting the position of the plate 102. The machine is thus set for a desired gap length.

It is to be noted that the driver assembly extends from the housing in a forwardly, downward inclined position so that it will readily insert into the gap 124. The driver assembly, accordingly, is provided with a forwardly extending, tapered tongue 76 for piloting the driver assembly into operating position to secure a top stop to one of the tapes or slingers.

The present invention also includes a slide fastener chain pulling mechanism 142 for pulling the chain through the machine 20, the mechanism 142 comprising a rubber roller 144 and a metal roller 146 having the chain passing therebetween. The metal roller 146 is secured to a drive shaft 148 extending through a supporting bracket 150, the drive shaft having an electromagnetic clutch 151 therebetween and a drive pulley 152, the pulley being engaged by endless belt 154 passed also around a pulley 156 mounted on an output shaft 158 of an electric motor 160. The rubber roller 144 is secured on an eccentric 162 of a shaft 164 rotatable within the bracket 150. A collar 166 affixed to shaft 164 has a radially extetnding hand lever 168 with end knob 170. A tension spring 172 secured at one end on a pin 174 stationarily secured on bracket 150, is secured at its other end to the hand lever 168 normally urging the same downwardly so that the rollers 144 and 146 bear pressure on the chain 74 therebetween. A solenoid 176 mounted on the bracket 150 has an armature 178 that in operative use bears against a radially extending pin 180 secured on the collar 166.

A chute 182 is provided to receive the slide fastener chain 74 after having passed between rollers 144 and 146, the chain then being automatically wound up on a reel (not shown).

In operative use, the machine works as follows: A push button 184 is depressed to start up motor 26 and cause flywheel pulley 32 to ratate freely on shaft 35, and at the same time to also start up motor 160 to rotate the knurled roller 146.

At the start of a cycle of operation, the bumper lever 46 is in a position wherein the notch engages the lug 42 due to spring 56 urging the lever outwardly. The slide fastener chain 74 is being pulled ahead by the pulling mechanism 142; the stop bar 92 being in upward position and riding within the gap 124. When the bottom stop 86 abuts with the stop bar 92, it causes the stop bar to pivot a suificient distance about pin 96 to cause switch 114 to trip, which in turn causes solenoid 54 to pull the bumper lever inwardly, thus causing the lug 42 to be freed and allow the clutching 40 to rotate and at the same time to disengage the electromagnetic clutch located between shaft .148 and the pulley 152. However, the bumper lever is now in a position wherein the notch 50 is in alignment with lug 44, thus limiting the rotation of the clutch ring to only approximately 140, thereby causing the mainshaft 36 to rotate 140". Also during this 140 travel, the mainshaft 36 activates the driver assembly cam 76 to advance forwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 5, while holding a top stop staple in an open position. At the end of the 140 revolution, the cam trips switch 64 actuating solenoid 176 to dis engage the frictional grasp of rollers 144 and 146, thus retracting the fastener 74 and the bar 92; the last tooth element abuts the unclosed top stop. It is of course understood that the plate 102 is adjusted prior to operation, so that the distance from the stop bar 92 to the driver assembly is equal to the length of the gaps so to assure the securing of the top stop adjacent the endmost tooth. The stop bar 92 now moves to the original position anl trips switch 114, causing solenoid 54 to deactivate, thus allowing spring 56 to throw the bumper lever 46 outwardly toward the right, and at the same time causing the driver assembly ram to come forward, clinching the top stop to the fastener chain 74, then to retreat rearwardly out of the gap 124 of the slide fastener chain. Another cam 66 momentarily trips microswitch 72, latching a relay (not shown), thereby engaging the electromagnetic clutch 15 1 and deactivates solenoid 176, causing the rollers .144 and 146 to engage. The relay also activates the solenoid 110. A mechanism within the clutch 1'51 prevents counter rotation of the shaft 148.

Thereupon the slider 84 passes under the bar 118 and causes switch 122 to deactivate the relay (not shown) and to deactivate solenoid 110, so as to bring the stop bar 92 into an upward returned position. The cycle is then repeated.

It is to be noted that the reason for the reverse takeup of the slide fastener chain prior to the clinching operation is to secure the top stop immediately adjacent the endmost tooth. This reverse take-up occurs when the solenoid 176 is depressed, causing the rubber roller to be raised upwardly, approximately to release the frictional hold of the slide fastener chain.

It is also to be noted that the slide 84 passing under the end of lever 118 causes the lever to tilt about screw and trip the switch 122.

I claim:

1. In an automatic wire fed top stop machine, the combination of a top stop forming and clinching mechanism including a driver assembly ram for applying a top stop to a slide fastener chain, and means for automatically positioning slide fastener units of said slide fastener chain subsequently in alignment with said driver assembly ram, said means comprising a means for pulling said slide fastener chain past said driver assembly ram and means for momentarily arresting the travel of said slide fastener chain when an endmost tooth of each said slide fastener unit is in alignment with said driver assembly ram, said pulling means comprising a pulling mechanism including a pair of rollers in parallel axial relation to each other between which said slide fastener chain is frictionally pulled, one of said rollers comprising a knurled metal roller on a drive shaft engaged through an electromagnetic clutch to a pulley connected by an endless belt to a pulley in a motor shaft of a first motor, the other of said rollers comprising a rubber roller on an eccentric extension of a second shaft, said drive shaft and second shaft being supported rotatably free in a bearing bracket, said second shaft having a collar with a radial pin in alignment with an armature of a first solenoid for urging said rubber roller apart from said knurled roller, and a spring normally urging said rollers toward frictional engagement.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arresting means comprises a second motor having a motor shaft, a pulley on said shaft connected by an endless belt to a flywheel pulley on a free rotating shaft supported on a housing, a clutch ring secured on a mainshaft in axial alignment with said free rotating shaft, said clutch ring having a pair of lugs on its cylindrical side, said lugs being angularly spaced apart and axially spaced apart on said clutch ring, a bumper lever pivoted at one end on a pin on a transverse axis of said clutch ring, a notch on a side of said bumper lever for selectively engaging said lugs, a spring for urging said bumper lever in a position to engage one of said lugs, and a second solenoid having an armature connected to said bumper lever for urging said bumper lever in an opposite direction to engage the other of said lugs, to cause intermittent rotation of said mainshaft, said mainshaft driving said drive assembly cam.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said mainshaft carries a pair of cams, each of which activates a switch through a push rod, for controlling the position of each said slide fastener unit respective to said ram.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein said slide fastener chain travels over a track, a stop bar slidable upwardly through an opening in said track, said stop bar being receivable in a gap between said slide fastener units, the lower end of said stop bar being pivotably secured to one end of a centrally pivotable horizontal lever normally urged upwardly at said end connected to said stop bar by a tension spring, the opposite end of said horizontal lever being connected to a third solenoid, to urge said horizontal lever oppositely to said tension spring, a switch adjacent one side of said stop bar which is activated by a pivotal travel of said stop bar when one of said slide chain units abuts said stop bar during the movement of said slide fastener chain.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein a transverse lever is centrally pivotable about a stationary pivot screw, one end of said lever resting over said slide fastener chain on said track, the opposite end of said lever being in alignment to activate a switch when a slide of a slide fastener unit travels below the first said end of said lever.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,096,685 10/1937 Osgood. 

